Workers cut off as power prices rise: PIAC

The "working poor" in NSW are struggling to pay unusually high utility bills and are now just as likely to be cut off as pensioners and the unemployed, a report has found.

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) released research on Sunday showing 44 per cent of all NSW householders who had their electricity, gas or water cut off last year got most of their income from work.

"The `working poor' arguably comprise a sizeable proportion of households disconnected from utilities," the report said.

Another 45 per cent of disconnected households said Centrelink payments were their main source of income.

PIAC senior policy officer Carolyn Hodge said the number of NSW people struggling with electricity bills had jumped by a quarter in 2012, and more respondents reported unusually high power and water bills.

More than 23,000 people were cut off from electricity in the year ending July 2012.

"If you add those two up, they actually outnumber people on Centrelink payments as groups that are disconnected," she said.

Energy Minister Chris Hartcher said every energy retailer in NSW needed to make appropriate hardship plans available - and to make sure customers knew about them.

"PIAC's research makes it clear that some households are still unaware of the various programs available, and I encourage all customers to have a look at the number of assistance measures and rebates offered by the NSW government," he said.

He flagged his government's new $75 Family Energy Rebate, which rises to $125 on July 1.

Ms Hodge called for an independent campaign to highlight the assistance available.

"What we found is that when people are under financial hardship they don't open those envelopes (from power companies)," she said.